Automatic train-pipe connecter



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1 6121170 ZV S Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'MART'IN -A.BARBER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNQR TO THE.AI-ERICAN AUTOMATIC CONNECTOR COMPANY, OF WYOMING, DELAVJARE, A CORPCRATION OF DELAWARE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTER.

Application filed. April 29, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAR IN A. Banana, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in. the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in an Automatic Train-Pipe Connector, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to automatic train pipe connectors, such as are used in conjunction with automatic car couplers for coupling the fluid conduits on a railway car one with the other.

The general object of the invention is to provide a sup-port for an automatic train pip-e connecter arranged so that the normal operation of the car coupler is not disturbed and wherein standardized equipment can be used.

Certain types of car couplers are arranged to operate by lifting an under member which serves to shift the lock which retains the knuckle in closed position. The means for operating this lifting mechanism extends beneath the shank of the coupler in a plane which passes substantially through the center of the shank, and it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a support for an automatic train coupler head which may be disposed adj acent this operating member but which will not at the same time interfere with the operation of this member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support for an automatic train pipe connector which will be stronger than the support now in use and which at the same time can be readily made and quickly secured in position.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from th following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pair of car couplers having associated therewith automatic train pipe connector sup ports constructed according to my inventi-on; Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2, Fig. 1 showing the details of my connector support in elevation; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the car coupler and associated parts.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have shown coupler heads 10 provided with shanks 11 which are adapted to move within the supports 12. The upper Serial No. 557,336.

portion, of each coupler head at its rear, is provided with straight face which defines a horn line 14, while the lowerportion of each coupler is enlarged as at 15. The coupler knuckle is shown at 16, while the lower end of this knuckle which is well known in the art is indicated at 20.

The coupler shown, is or the bottom opcrate-d type wherein the operating lifter 21 which actnatesthe knuckle lock is pivoted to the coupler head at 22 and is provided with a rock arm 26 pivoted at 27' to the lifter 21 and which may be pivoted at its: other end to the car. The rock arm 26 is adapted to be operated by means of bell crank lever 28. This bell crank lever 28 is provided with a central bowed portion 29 so that the parts may operate regardless of the angular disposition of the car coupler.

The result of this arrangement is that when ti o lever 28 is rocked, the lifter 21 is raised, thereby freeing the knuckle look so that the cars may be separated. The lever 28 also serves, through its connecting mechanism, when the car is uncoupled to allow the knuckle to be opened without necessitating the switchman pulling the knuckle with his fingers.

The bracket embodying the features of my invention is shown at 30. This: bracket, it will be noted, has a pair of spaced arms 81 which spring from an intermediate portion 32 and are provided with diverging arms 33 at the lower end. The extremities of the arms 31 may be secured directly to the coupler head or to a member welded or cast on the head. I have shown it as secured by bolts shown at to a projection 36 on the coupler head.

The bracket is: preferably constructed as a single piece and to provide rigidity in strength, I prefer to make the upper arms cruciform in cross section. The U-shaped bracket which I have designed, provides great strength, due to its shape and to the fact that it has two points of support, thus overcoming the tendency to break which is present in brackets having but a single support. The upper end of each arm 30 is shown as rabbeted, as at 37, and this rabbeted portion fits the projection 36 to which it may be secured by bolts 40.

Each of the depending arms at the lower end of the bracket is provided with a hearing seat 40 for receiving the trunnion memher 41 of an automatic car coupler 43. This connecter which may be of the general type shown in my Patent No. 1,347,986 granted July 27, 1920 comprises a head portion having a shank 45 which is mounted for universal movement, the coupler head being urged to its forward position by means of the spring 46. Intermediate the arms 31 of the bracket, I show a projection 50 to which a chain 51 may be secured, the other end of the chain being-secured, as at 52, to the coupler head for the purpose of aiding in supporting the latter when in uncoupled position. This general form of chain support is shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial N 0. 545,666 filed March 22, 1922.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that the rock arm 26 which extends rearwardly from the lifter 21 substantially in theaxial plane of the coupler shank 11 is disposed intermediate the arms 31 of the U- shaped supporting bracket, thus allowing the rock arm 26 which is of standardized construction to be left unchanged, while at the same time the spaced supporting arms afford great rigidity and strength to the connecter support.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination with a car coupler having an operating member supported beneath the coupler and an actuating lever for said member, of two supporting arms for an automatic train pipe connection secured to said coupler in laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of said operating member whereby the lever may move said member vertically with reference to the arms, and an automatic train pipe connecter carried by said supporting arms.

2. An automatic train pipe coupler supporting bracket comprising an upper U- shaped member adapted to be connected to a car coupler, a lower U-shaped supporting member extending from said upper U-shaped member and having laterally spaced hearing portions, one in each arm of the U.

3. In combination with a car coupler, a bottom operated lock therefor, an automatic train pipe connecter support comprising a U-shaped bracket secured to the car coupler, an automatic train pipe connecter having a rearwardly extending shank, means on said bracket for pivotally supporting said shank,

a spring between the pivotal connection and the connecter head, said bracket being the sole connection between the connecter and coupler, and means extending through the bracket for actuating the lock.

4. The combination with a car coupler comprisinga coupler head mounted on the car and having a knuckle and a shank, an operating lever for said knuckle, a bracket mounted on the coupler head, an automatic train pipe connecter supported on the bracket, said operating lever passing through said supporting means, and a member operable from the side of the coupler for actuating said lever.

5. The combination with a car couplerhaving a bottom actuated lock, of an automatic train pipe coupler supporting bracket, comprising an upper 'U-shaped member having a stiffening rib thereon, a lower U-shaped supporting member inte ral with and extending from said upper IJ-shaped member and having laterally spaced bearings, a member extending through the bracket for operating the lock, and an automatic train pipe coupler mounted in said bearings.

6. The combination with a car coupler comprising a coupler head mounted on the car having a knuckle and a shank, an operating lever for said knuckle, a bracket mount ed on the coupler head, an automatic train pipe connecter supported on the bracket, said operating lever passing through said sup porting means, and a bell crank extending transversely of the coupler for actuating said lever.

7. In an automatic train pipe connecter, a car coupler having a head, a bottom actuated lock for the coupler, a supporting bracket having spaced arms secured to said head, a projection on said bracket intermediate said arms, a lever extending through the arms above the head for actuating the look, a bearing for the connecter head on said bracket, a connecter head supported in said bearing, a supporting chain secured at one end to the connecter head and having the other end secured to said projection intermediate said spaced arms.

8. The combination with a car coupler having a coupling head and having an operating member, said'head having a shank movable relative to the car, said coupler having a horn line marking the limit of rearward movement of the head, a U-shaped supporting member secured to the c0upler head adjacent the horn line on the rear of the coupler head and movable with thecoupler head, said supporting member having spaced arms, one of which is secured to the coupler at each side with the operating member between them, said arms terminating in a bearing portion and connected together intermediate the bearing portion and the point of support, and an automatic train pipe connecter having a pivot member secured in said bearing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix. my

signature.

MARTIN A. BARBER- 

